We exercise to stay healthy, and go to the doctor if we are unwell. We brush our teeth every single day and go to the dentist for check-ups. We go to the opticians to get our eyes tested and get glasses if required, however, majority of us do not take care of our ears until maybe it’s too late. Just like our eyes and teeth, we need to take care of our ears from an early age in order to ensure they stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. Don’t wait until it’s too late, because once your hearing is damaged, it’s usually irreversible. In this blog we will be giving a guide to maintaining healthy hearing which is for people of all ages. It’s so important we all do our best to protect our hearing.
Earplugs
Let’s face it, we can’t always limit our exposure to loud noises, especially if it’s related to our work or leisure environments. Traffic, nightclubs, concerts, lawnmowers, electric chainsaws, roadworks and machinery are just some of the ways we are exposed to dangerous levels of noise. However, wearing earplugs is a convenient and easy way to protect our ears from these loud noises and even from dust entering our ear canal. You can now even get custom fitted earplugs just for you.
Lower the Volume
Worldwide, 1.1 billion teenagers and young people are in the high-risk category, for noise-induced hearing loss according to figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is a direct result of the use of earbuds and headphones at dangerously high volumes. We advise following the 60 for 60 rule. Listen to the audio at 60% volume or less for 60 minutes or less a day. We also would advise to use headphones over earbuds, as earbuds fit very close to the eardrum and so are particularly dangerous. But it’s also important that it’s not just loud music in earbuds and headphones which can be hazardous. Playing loud music through speakers can also present risks for hearing loss, so just ensure to keep the volume down with these too.
Allow your ears time to recover
There are research reports that state individuals need, on average, 16 hours of quiet time for their ears to recover from just one loud night out at a concert, bar or nightclub. We would recommend stepping outside for even 5 minutes every once in a while, if you are in an environment with loud noises for a prolonged spell in order to allow your ears rest and help in their recovery.
Don’t use Cotton Buds in your ears
Many people use cotton buds to clean their ears, but we would 100% not advise you to do this. Cotton buds can irritate the ear canal and even push wax further into the ear. Also, the lining of the ear can be damaged easily as it is quite delicate. It’s important to have a little bit of wax in our ears to prevent harmful particles such as dust entering, plus the ear is actually a self-cleaning organ. If you have excess wax you wish to remove, we would recommend seeking a professional opinion. At Audiology Medical Services we do microsuction ear wax removal, a completely pain free, quick and easy solution to removing ear wax.
Be cautious of using Medications
There are certain medications such as aspirin, naproxen and ibuprofen, as well as others, which can contribute to hearing loss. We would recommend to only take them as directed and if you have any concerns to discuss with your doctor.
Keep your ears clean and dry
You can keep your ears clean by washing behind your ear and washing the visible part of your ear with soap. Make sure to remove the soap with rinsed fingers and use a towel to dry. If in the bath, we do not recommend immersing your ears in to the water. This could lead to an infection due to body bacteria. In fact, any excess moisture can cause bacteria to enter the ear which can lead to infections. Infections can be dangerous for your hearing health, so make sure to keep your ears dry.
Exercise
Believe it or not, exercise is good for your ears! Exercises such as walks, runs or cycling all help get the blood pumping to your ears and therefore helps the internal parts of the ear work to their potential and remain healthy. Just make sure if you are cycling, to wear a helmet. Head trauma can damage your hearing so stay safe out there.
Try to control Stress Levels
Of course, we’d all like to be able to control our stress levels more, but did you know that increased stress can damage your hearing? When we get stressed there is a lot of pressure put on our nerves, blood flow, body heat and more which can travel to the ear. In particular, high levels of stress and anxiety have been connected with both temporary and permanent tinnitus.
Get Check-ups
We would recommend an annual check-up at the very least with an audiologist. Hearing loss develops gradually, so it can be difficult to detect, but the earlier your take action the better. Whatever you do, please do not ignore hearing loss. It will not improve without the right treatment and the longer you leave the problem the longer it may take to treat. Hearing loss not only effects quality of life and your relationships with loved ones, it has been linked to many other health issues such as depression, dementia and even heart disease.
Do your ears a favour and make sure you look after them and maintain healthy hearing!
Audiology Medical Services
If you have any questions about your hearing, simply ask a member of our hearing care team at one of Audiology Medical Services’. We have clinically trained professional audiologists, available at clinics nationwide. Freephone us on 1800 501 501.
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